After criticism of sportsmanship against Aspinall & Bunting, Luke Littler insists he won't be fist-bumping Michael van Gerwen in PDC World Darts Championship final

Luke Littler is into the final of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, marking a second straight appearance in the biggest match in the sport for the 17-year-old. Unlike in his quarter-final victory over Nathan Aspinall or semi-final win over Stephen Bunting though, don't expect Littler to be regularly fist-bumping Michael van Gerwen in the final.

Whilst the respect and admiration both Bunting and Aspinall had for Littler was refreshing to see, given the circumstances and prestige of the match, not all were convinced by the constant fist-bumping. After Aspinall's quarter-final defeat for example, Vincent van der Voort took aim. "I'd rather have that (Gerwyn Price's antics ed.) than Littler against Aspinall running around fist-bumping each other after every set," the Dutchman said on his podcast Darts Draait Door. "With the fist-bumping I'm done at a certain point. Afterwards you're just okay with each other, but at that point just try to have a little fight with each other."

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The Dutchman wasn't alone in this line of thought either. During the semi-final, former Lakeside champion Mark Webster urged Bunting to be less in awe of Littler whilst commentating for Sky Sports. "That's all a bit much," the two-time PDC World Darts Championship semi-finalist said of the constant showings of respect from Bunting. "This is a World Championship semi-final. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh."

Former Tour Card holder James Hubbard, who beat Michael van Gerwen in the final of the 2012 PDC World Youth Championship also voiced his discontent on social media. "Aspinall last night, Bunting tonight, both of them showing miles to much respect to Littler," Hubbard wrote on X. "I know they’re both good friends with him but you just can’t afford to do it and make him feel even more comfortable than he is. He’s too good!!"

Aspinall & Bunting were full of respect for Littler's brilliance against them

As mentioned though, don't expect similar scenes between Littler and Van Gerwen tonight. “Obviously, if we win a set, we are not going to fistbump each other. But that’s what I did with Stephen and Nathan," Littler explained after his semi-final. "We are good friends... Me and Nathan after a set, we gave each other a fistbump. Me and Stephen did the same."

"Me and Nathan and me and Stephen are really good mates. When we win a set, we do what we do," 'The Nuke' continued. "But as soon as the referee says ‘game on’ that is when it is game on.”

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